Multi-purpose camera device for use on a vehicle
An illustrative example camera device includes a sensor that is configured to detect radiation. A first portion of the sensor has a first field of vision and is used for a first imaging function. A distortion correction prism directs radiation outside the first field of vision toward the sensor. A lens element between the distortion correcting prism and the sensor includes a surface at an oblique angle relative to a sensor axis. The lens element directs radiation from the distortion correcting prism toward a second portion of the sensor that has a second field of vision and is used for a second imaging function. The sensor provides a first output for the first imaging function based on radiation detected at the first portion of the sensor. The sensor provides a second output for the second imaging function based on radiation detection at the second portion.
1. A camera device, comprising: a sensor configured to detect radiation, a first portion of the sensor being used for a first imaging function, the first portion of the sensor having a first field of vision; a distortion correcting prism forward of the sensor, the distortion correcting prism directing radiation outside of the first field of vision toward the sensor; and a lens element between the distortion correcting prism and the sensor, the lens element including a surface facing toward the sensor, the surface being at an oblique angle relative to a sensor axis, the lens element directing radiation from the distortion correcting prism toward a second portion of the sensor, the second portion of the sensor being used for a second imaging function that is different than the first imaging function, the second portion of the sensor having a second field of vision outside of the first field of vision, wherein: the sensor provides a first output for the first imaging function based on radiation detected at the first portion of the sensor and the sensor provides a second output for the second imaging function based on radiation detected at the second portion, the sensor has a rectangular sensing surface area, the first portion of the sensor corresponds to a first rectangular portion of the sensing surface area, the first rectangular portion is centered within the sensing surface area, the first rectangular portion is symmetric about the sensor axis, the second portion of the sensor corresponds to second rectangular portions of the sensing surface area between the first rectangular portion and an outside edge of the sensing surface area, a third sensor portion is used for a third imaging function, and the third sensor portion corresponds to third rectangular portions of the sensing surface area between the second rectangular portions of the sensing surface area and the outside edge of the sensing surface area.
2. The camera device of claim 1 , wherein the second field of vision is wider than the first field of vision.
3. The camera device of claim 1 , wherein
the first imaging function comprises a driver assist function; and
the second imaging function comprises at least one of a digital video recorder (DVR) function and a side view sensor function.
4. The camera device of claim 1 , wherein
the first imaging function is based on radiation in the visible light spectrum; and
the second imaging function is based on radiation in the visible light spectrum.
5. The camera device of claim 4 , wherein
the first output is one of monochrome image data or color image data; and
the second output comprises color image data.
6. The camera device of claim 1 , wherein the oblique angle of the surface is between 80° and 89° relative to the sensor axis.
7. The camera device of claim 1 , wherein the surface of the lens element is conical and symmetrical about the sensor axis.
8. The camera device of claim 7 , wherein
the lens element includes a central portion;
the surface of the lens element is situated outside of the central portion;
radiation detected by the first portion of the sensor passes through the central portion; and
radiation detected by the second portion of the sensor passes through the surface of the lens element.
9. The camera device of claim 1 , wherein
the third portion of the sensor has a third field of vision outside of the second field of vision; and
the third portion of the sensor detects radiation that passes through the distortion correcting prism and the surface of the lens element.
10. The camera device of claim 9 , wherein
the first imaging function comprises a driver assist function;
the second imaging function comprises a digital video recorder (DVR) function; and
the third imaging function comprises a side view sensor function.
11. The camera device of claim 9 , wherein
the first field of vision has a first outside edge that is between 25° and 40° from the sensor axis;
the second field of vision has a second outside edge that is between 40° and 65° from the sensor axis; and
the third field of vision has a third outside edge that is between 60° and 85° from the sensor axis.
12. The camera device of claim 1 , wherein the distortion correcting prism comprises a ring-shaped prism.
13. The camera device of claim 12 , wherein
radiation detected by the first portion of the sensor is unaffected by the distortion correcting prism; and
radiation detected by the first portion of the sensor is unaffected by a portion of the lens element that includes the surface.
14. The camera device of claim 1 , wherein the second rectangular portions are situated on all four sides of the first rectangular portion.
15. A camera device, comprising:
a sensor configured to detect radiation, a first portion of the sensor being used for a first imaging function, the first portion of the sensor having a first field of vision;
a distortion correcting prism forward of the sensor, the distortion correcting prism directing radiation outside of the first field of vision toward the sensor;
a lens element between the distortion correcting prism and the sensor, the lens element including a surface facing toward the sensor, the surface being at an oblique angle relative to a sensor axis, the lens element directing radiation from the distortion correcting prism toward a second portion of the sensor, the second portion of the sensor being used for a second imaging function that is different than the first imaging function, the second portion of the sensor having a second field of vision outside of the first field of vision;
wherein:
the sensor provides a first output for the first imaging function based on radiation detected at the first portion of the sensor and the sensor provides a second output for the second imaging function based on radiation detected at the second portion;
a third portion of the sensor is used for a third imaging function;
the third portion of the sensor has a third field of vision outside of the second field of vision;
the third portion of the sensor detects radiation that passes through the distortion correcting prism and the surface of the lens element;
the first field of vision has a first outside edge that is between 25° and 40° from the sensor axis;
the second field of vision has a second outside edge that is between 40° and 65° from the sensor axis; and
the third field of vision has a third outside edge that is between 60° and 85° from the sensor axis.
16. The camera device of claim 15 , wherein the sensor has a rectangular sensing surface area; the first portion of the sensor corresponds to a first rectangular portion of the sensing surface area, the first rectangular portion being centered within the sensing surface area, the first rectangular portion being symmetric about the sensor axis; and the second portion of the sensor corresponds to second rectangular portions of the sensing surface area between the first rectangular portion and an outside edge of the sensing surface area.
17. The camera device of claim 16 , comprising a third sensor portion that is used for a third imaging function and wherein
the third sensor portion corresponds to third rectangular portions of the sensing surface area between the second rectangular portions of the sensing surface area and the outside edge of the sensing surface area.
18. The camera device of claim 15 , wherein
radiation detected by the first portion of the sensor is unaffected by the distortion correcting prism; and
radiation detected by the first portion of the sensor is unaffected by a portion of the lens element that includes the surface.
19. A camera device, comprising:
a sensor configured to detect radiation, a first portion of the sensor being used for a first imaging function, the first portion of the sensor having a first field of vision;
a ring-shaped distortion correcting prism forward of the sensor, the ring-shaped distortion correcting prism having an open central portion, the distortion correcting prism directing radiation outside of the first field of vision toward the sensor; and
a lens element between the distortion correcting prism and the sensor, the lens element including a surface facing toward the sensor, the surface being at an oblique angle relative to a sensor axis, the lens element directing radiation from the distortion correcting prism toward a second portion of the sensor, the second portion of the sensor being used for a second imaging function that is different than the first imaging function, the second portion of the sensor having a second field of vision outside of the first field of vision;
wherein the sensor provides a first output for the first imaging function based on radiation detected at the first portion of the sensor and the sensor provides a second output for the second imaging function based on radiation detected at the second portion;
wherein radiation that passes through the open central portion is unaffected by the distortion correcting prism; and
wherein radiation detected by the first portion of the sensor is unaffected by the distortion correcting prism and is unaffected by a portion of the lens element that includes the surface.